Celebration: A Zine from Asian & Pacific Voices
Project: Editorial Illustration, Cover Design | Year: 2021
This is a nonprofit zine created by Asian and Pacific writers and illustrators to celebrate and amplify our stories.
I contributed as an illustrator, sharing narratives rooted in Indonesian culture and collaborating with the cover team. Through my work, I aimed to highlight Indonesia’s rich cultural diversity and showcase its uniqueness beyond the common perception of it as simply a country known for its kindness.
The brief invited each illustrator on the cover team to create a story representing a country of their choice. I chose to present Balinese culture through an illustration inspired by a yearly celebration in Ubud, Bali. The event, known as the Bali Spirit Festival, is recognized as one of the world’s most inspiring yoga festivals.
The festival embodies the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasizes living in harmony with our spiritual, social, and natural environments.
/zine Illustration;
In addition to the cover, an illustration for the zine highlights Takbiran Night, a tradition before Eid al Fitr marked by reciting takbeer. The scene is set in Jakarta, where dense urban life contrasts with small village communities behind towering buildings.
The artwork captures children running through narrow streets, lighting firecrackers, and celebrating with gratitude and joy. Amid the city’s noise and lights, the village feels alive through the sounds of takbeer and fireworks, creating a moment that is vibrant yet unexpectedly calming.
Some small details to depict the story that are very Indonesia are Kaleng Kerupuk and Kucing Kampung. They can be found literally in every corner of both the cities or in the rural areas. Another thing to spot on is Kembang Kelape Betawi, it is the traditional of Jakarta crafts that are used for any kind of celebrations. These crafts have been designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Education and Culture since 2017.